Horseshoe.



N0- 832,670. PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906. J. B. HESS. HORSESHOB. APPLICATION FILED APR.2-O,1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

' Application filed April 20, 1906. Serial No. 312,934.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY BRUCE Hnss, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Huntington Mills, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Horseshoes, of Which the fol owing is a specification.

My invention relates generally to horseshoes, and more particularly to those of the character or type constructed to receive and carry removable calks in order to provide for a secure footing of the animal and prevent slipping on ice or other surfaces.

The object of the invention is to provide a shoe of the type set forth which will be simple in construction and prove durableand efficient in use, and to so construct the shoe that when the calks are attached thereto they will assume such angular position with relation to the shoe as to provide for a positive and non-slipping engagement of the toe portion of the shoe with the surface being traveled over.

The invention consists in providing a shoe of well-known form and on the under face thereof with an inclined face located, preferably, at the toe portion and inclined rearwardly and downwardly, said inclined portion being formed with apertures to receive the shanks of removable calks.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of the specification, and wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a shoe embodying my invention and applied to a hoof. Fig, 2 is a perspective view of the under side of the shoe, showing the calks in position thereon. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the under side of the shoe, showing the calks removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the toe portion of the shoe, taken on a line through one of the calk-receiving apertures.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, 1 designates the body of a horseshoe, the latter being of any well-known construction and consisting of a toe portion 2 and the rearwardly-extending side members 3 3. At the rear end portion of each of the side members 3 is provided a threaded aperture 4 to receive the threaded shank 5 of a calk 6, the latter being formed adjacent the shank with a shoulder 7, intended to abut the face of the shoe when the shank-of the calk is screwed home into the threaded aperture 4. All of the features just briefly described are of well-known construction and form no part of my present invention, which I will now proceed to set forth.

The toe portion 2 of the shoe heretofore referred to is preferably, althoughnot necessarily, thickened, so as to provide a downwardly-projecting portion 2 on the under side of the shoe, said portion 2 extending for a suitable distance either side the longitudinal medium line of the shoe. This thickened portion of the shoe is formed with its under face inclined rearwardly and downwardly from the forward part of the toe portion, as at 8, the inclined face being continuous and at such an angle to the general horizontal plane of the shoe that said face will assume a substantially horizontal plane when the toe of the hoof is brought into engagement with the ground.

In the inclined face 8 and extending into the thickened part 2 of the toe portion are stance two of such openings being shown, said openings being formed with their longitudinal axes extending at right angles to said inclined face. These openings 9 are adapted to receive the shanks 10 of removable calks 11 and are preferably threaded in order to threads formed on said shanks, whereby the calks are securely but removably secured in position on the shoe. It will be noted from reference to the drawings that the calk is formed with a body or engaging portion and that the latter and the threaded shank have the calk is screwed into position the engaging portion will extend at right angles to the said inclined face. By this arrangement it will be seen that when the parts are assembled and the shoe placed in position on a hoof the forward or toe calks will project forwardly in an inclined direction with relation to the ground and also to the hoof as long as the latter is in horizontal position; but when the toe of the hoof descends to meet the ground the calks engage the latter at right angles thereto, so as to procure a secure and positive footing. If desired, the calks 11 may be formed with suitable shoulders 11 to abut the continuous inclined face when screwed into the openings in said face, whereby the one or more openings 9, in the present in-v a common longitudinal axis, so that when provide for engagement with corresponding engaging portions of the calks are braced against lateral strains.

While I have-shown the openings 9 and shanks 10 as provided with interengaging threads, it is obvious that said openings might be formed with smooth walls and the shanks made smooth and of such size as to fit snugly within said openings, the gist of my invention being the provision of the inclined face and manner of mounting the calks therein. 7

It will be seen that the thickened portion heretofore referred to not only serves the purpose set forth, but acts as a toe-weight to help in throwing the toe down to provide for a positive engagement of the calks with the ground and also to prevent overreaching in the ordinary travel of the animal.

Upon reference to the drawings it will be seen that the rear edge of the thickened toe portion of the shoe constitutes a sharp protection 18, which serves to sharply and positively engage the ground to procure a firm engagement therewith should it be desired to use the shoe without the calks, as heretofore described.

I claim- 1. In a horseshoe, a shoe-body formed at its forward or toe end and on the under side thereof with a thickened portion extending for a distance on both sides of the longitudinal medium line of said body, the under face of said thickened portion being inclined rearwardly and downwardly for the entire width of the toe portion and constituting an engaging projection at its rear edge, substantially as described.

2. In a horseshoe, a shoe-body formed at its forward or toe end and on the under side thereof with a thickened portion extending for a distance on both sides of the longitudinal medium line of said body, the under face of said thickened portion being inclined rearwardly and downwardly and a calk-receiving opening in said inclined face, the longitudinal axis of said opening being at substantial right angles to said inclined face, substantially as described.

3. In a horseshoe, a shoe-body formed at its forward or toe end and on the under side thereof with a thickened portion extending for a distance on both sides of the longitudinal medium line of said body, the under side face of said thickened portion bein inclined rearwardly and downwardly, a ca k-receiving opening in said inclined face, the longitudinal axis of said opening being at substantial right angles to said inclined face, and a calk comprising an engaging portion and a shank, the latter being secured in said opening, the engaging portion and said shank having a common longitudinal axis whereby the engaging portion of the calk projects at right angles to said inclined face, substantially as described.

J. BRUCE HESS.

Witnesses:

ALEX. Soor'r, J. FRANK CULVERWELL. 

